Table leg



W. HOFFMANN Feb. 21, 1939.

TABLE LEG Filed Jan. 2l, 1938 n TV jmd/m,

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Patented F eb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES TABLE LEG Wolfgang Hoffmann, Batavia, Ill., assignor to The Howell Company, St. Charles, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 21, 1938, Serial No. 186,180

2 Claims.

My invention, which relates to a table or stand, is concerned particularly with the construction of the legs therefor and the resulting table structure. It is an object of this invention to provide a table leg which is self-reinforcing and which when attached to a table will remain iirrnly in place so as to afford an unyielding support. It is further an object of my invention to devise a leg structure which is attractive in appearance, ornamental in character, economical to produce, and easy to assemble in place.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown an exempliiication of my invention in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a table the legs of which embody the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through a table showing in elevation one of the legs which is attached thereto;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the lower end of the leg; and

Fig. 5 is a detail in section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

As shown, the table or stand comprises a top T from the under side of which is depended a supporting frame of apron boards 6. With a table of rectangular shape, these apron Vboards approach each other at a right angle, their proximate ends being spaced slightly to provide a crotch as shown best in Fig. 3. A triangular brace block I secured to the apron boards as by screws 8 is also fitted into each corner to enhance the rigidity of the frame.

With a table of this general description I employ a plurality of supporting legs having the novel construction of my invention. As shown, each leg comprises a main tube I0 which depends vertically from a point between adjacent ends of two apron boards, i. e., the crotch (see Fig. 3), the top of the tube being accommodated, if desired, within a shallow recess II in the under side of the top. Fitted into the bottom end of the tube is a hollow plug I2 (see Fig. 4) which may be welded in place. The lower end of this plug which is closed is formed into a rounded foot I3 which is seated within the lower end of a brace tube I4. As shown, this brace tube extends along the main tube, in spaced relation thereto, and if desired, may diverge slightly therefrom toward the top. The lower end of the brace tube, as shown, is curved inwardly, is slightly flattened, and is provided laterally at its extremity with an opening forming a seat for reception of the foot which may have a welded connection therewith. To all intents and purposes, this foot is a part of the brace tube and may be indistinguishable therefrom.

The upper end of the brace tube is flattened as at I5 where engagement is made with the inner face of the brace block 'I. A bolt I@ traverses the attened upper end of the brace tube and extends through a passage in the brace block and on through an aperture in the main tube to engage therewithin a nut I'I which, if desired, may be welded in place. By fitting a nut I8, with wings if desired, to the outer end of the bolt, a clamping pressure is set up which (l) holds the main tube firmly within the crotch afforded by the proximate ends of the two apron boards, and (2) maintains the flattened end of the brace tube immovably against the block which serves as a spacer for the upper ends of the tubes. When so positioned, the two apron board ends against which the main tube is seated afford a Vertical bracing for the leg such that an immovable support is provided for the table. When the bolt is tightened, the tube may be drawn with pressure against the board ends which, as shown, may be recessed slightly for their accommodation.

It is to be observed that the present leg embodies in its structure, which is integral or substantially so, both main and brace tubes, each cooperating with the other and both joined to the table top frame by a common bolt which maintains the leg rigidly in place. Part of the table load is carried upon the upper end of the main tube and part, through the table top frame, upon the brace tube so that the load is thereby distributed. The leg structure utilizes the threepoint principle for stiffeningeffect, viz., the two separated points of attachment at the top and the connecting foot at the bottom.

I claim:

1. A leg comprising two tubes spaced at their upper ends and joined at the bottom to provide a foot, a table top surmounting the leg, a block depending from the top between the tubes serving as a spacer for the upper ends thereof, and a bolt connecting each tube near its upper end rigidly to the spacer block, the points of connection between each tube and the bolt, together with the foot at the bottom thereof, defining a triangle affording a substantial brace in the plane of the leg.

2. In a leg for tables or the like, the combination of two tubes interconnected at the bottom to provide a foot, a spacer block between the tubes near their upper ends, laterally extended means associated with the block forming a vertically disposed crotch within which one tube is tted, and a single bolt interconnecting the tubes near their upper regions to the block adapted, when tightened, to clamp both upper tube ends, one against the crotch surfaces and the other against the spacer block at a point remote from the crotch, whereby to establish through the two tubes a rigid connection with the spacer block, the connection being braced in plane which is coincident with the bolt.

WOLFGANG HOFFMANN. 

